Friday, December 30, 2011

M and I arrived at the hospital at 6:45AM. We were set up in a room to await shift change and the OB to let us know what was going to happen. About 5 minutes later the OB comes in and asks what things were going on the day before. I tell him what I was told after the internal on Tuesday, that there has been no progress since the week before, still 2cm, thick and head high. He asks if they did a membrane sweep. I respond with yes. He asks if there was bloody show, and I respond with no. He said they didn't do it right then, and he'll be doing it again. Wholy Moly did he do a sweep. He also said that I was a 3, thin, but the head was still high. He believed that once the meds started we'd be having a baby by mid afternoon.

Everything was right on track for that prediction. The Oxytocin was started around 8:30. There were some contractions, but I barely noticed them. M and I put on a Top Chef All Stars marathon and just wondered around the room. Around noon the OB comes in to check things out and breaks my water. He still thinks mid afternoon. I'm at a 4-5cm at that point.

Still the contractions aren't too bad. I can definitely feel them, but nothing horrible. Every half hour to hour the Oxytocin is bumped up by 2, so it was at about a 12 at that point. I ask for a labor ball around 1, and the nurse bumps up the meds one last time. At that point the contractions were getting much more painful, but I was still able to breathe through them. The OB came in around 2 to check again. 7cm. He said he'd be back in a bit since I'll be ready soon. He has now changed his prediction to late afternoon. My mother came in around that time and her, M and I were just talking with each other and the nurse, while still watching Top Chef. The contractions were much more intense, so I had a lot of breaks in the conversation. Next internal still showed 7cm. I asked for some Nubane to take the edge off and that bought me another hour. Unfortunately I was still at 7cm after that hour. Then the pain was intense again.

I asked for more Nubane, but it wasn't doing anything to take the edge off. I went through a few more contractions, but it was too much. The nurse offered to do another internal and we agreed that if I was still at 7cm, she'd call for the epi. Still 7cm, bring on the drugs!

I got the epi all done and feeling great around 7PM. I still could wiggle my toes and my lungs felt tight when a contraction hit, but thank goodness the pain was gone. The OB told me to rest. I could either relax my body enough to get past that pesky 7cm, or I'd at least get some rest to keep going later. Sadly the nurse I had all day had to leave. She was so bummed to know it was all so close but her shift was over.

An hour later the OB comes in, checks, and tells me we're good to go. Unfortunately I can't feel anything in order to push, so they back off the epi. About 15 minutes later (8PM) the nurses set me up with M on one side, my mother on the other and explain how I'm going to push. She tells me to do some test pushes. After two contractions C is crowning. One nurse gets the OB. He comes in, sets up, and 2 contractions later C has arrived. 8:20PM, 7 pounds 12 ounces, 21 inches.

No tear, no hemhorage, no issues at all with me. C did take a big gulp of fluid, so there were some feeding issues with that, but nothing else. She spent the night with me and H in our room, and it was fantastic!

We're even breastfeeding. So far so good with that. It's an adjustment and there have already been times I thought of how easy formula would be, like the 4 straight hours she was attached to me last night, but we're hanging in there. I reached my first goal, and we made it through the hospital stay without formula. Next goal will be to make it to a week.

Such an incredible experience the whole day was. It was such a difference than with AJ, that I almost got sad that we have no plans to ever have that experience again.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Total Weight Gain: I've lost track, but I think it's close to 30 for a total at this point. Eh, not bad really.

Maternity Clothes: Yep, but I can still fit into some of my non-mat t-shirts

Sleep: Insomnia is still there occasionally

Cravings or Aversions: I wanted OJ more than anything else in the world for a day. That's over now.

Best Moment This Week: Hopefully the birth of this girly tomorrow.

Movement: Constant and crazy.

Gender: Girl.

Labor Signs: Ultrasound showed lots of room and lots of fluid. The tech even said that if she didn't know my due date she'd figure I still had a few weeks to go. Fantastic! Non Stress Test for half an hour showed 0 contractions. 2cm, thick with the head high. So no, no signs of labor on my own in my future.

Belly Button in or out: sort of out.

What I miss: The thought of going into labor on my own.

What I'm Looking Forward to: meeting this little girl

Weekly Wisdom: Make plans, and life happens

Milestones: Experiencing my first induction tomorrow

What the baby is up to: No good. She is way to comfy and stubborn for my own good.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Total Weight Gain: I've lost track, but I think it's close to 30 for a total at this point. Eh, not bad really.

Maternity Clothes: Yep, but I can still fit into some of my non-mat t-shirts

Sleep: Insomnia is still there. I think it's more stress than anything else at this point. I really wanted this little one to make her appearance before Christmas, but that doesn't look hopeful. I'm guessing she'll make her debut sometime over the weekend, so I'll miss Christmas gatherings and end up with the OB I don't like.

Cravings or Aversions: Nothing really

Best Moment This Week: Not really the best moment, since that would entail this girly to come out on her own, but an end date is in sight. Eviction procedures will commence one week from today.

Movement: Constant and crazy.

Gender: Girl.

Labor Signs: LOTS of Braxton Hicks, but no real contractions. A quicky internal said about 2cm and soft, but the head is still pretty high.

Belly Button in or out: sort of out.

What I miss: Not constantly thinking about the time of the arrival vs Christmas gatherings.

What I'm Looking Forward to: meeting this little girl

Weekly Wisdom: Make plans, and life happens

Milestones: Done

What the baby is up to:
Happy due date -- you made it! Since 40 weeks was the deadline you set for baby, you’ve probably already made sure the bassinet is made up, the car seat is installed and your hospital bag is by the door. Now, do some little things you might have forgotten, like making sure your cell phone is fully charged before you go to bed and the car is filled with gas. Some moms-to-be also choose to put a waterproof mattress cover on their bed, just in case their water breaks in the middle of the night. It’s not a must-do, but it’s not a bad idea either, especially because once baby comes, there might be other messes on or around your bed. Week 40 can be mentally rough, since you’ll probably be constantly wondering when baby will decide to finally make his entrance and question every twinge you have. Try not to stress, and rest assured that baby will arrive when he’s ready -- and your body will give you the right signals that it’s time.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Total Weight Gain: 21 pounds. So happy for that. My appointment after Thanksgiving showed a 5 pound gain in two weeks. Thankfully, the following week showed a 4 pound loss. Amazing what the difference in appointment time (5:00PM for the gain, 8:30AM for the loss), and no holiday eating, can do.

Maternity Clothes: Yep, but I can still fit into some of my non-mat t-shirts

Sleep: Two Tums before bed helps with the heartburn. The past couple nights I've been wide awake for hours and had to move to the couch so my flopping around wouldn't keep M up. One of us needs sleep with AJ's issues.

Cravings or Aversions: I really wanted a Boston Cream Pie after watching The Best Thing I Ever Ate, on Food Network weeks ago. I picked up the ice cream version. I'll never eat it again, but at least I stopped thinking about the pie.

Best Moment This Week: Today is the 7th. Which means if this girl is going to keep up the birthday pattern set by the others (AJ 8/7, misscarriage 1/7, nephew 9/7, niece 6/7, anniversary 6/7, brother 11/7) However with my lack of any impending labor feelings, it looks like this one will skip on that tradition.

Movement: Constant and crazy, and a little painful at this point.

Gender: Girl.

Labor Signs: Sadly, nothing major.

Belly Button in or out: sort of out.

What I miss: bending, having a lap, standing without peeing myself

What I'm Looking Forward to: meeting this little girl

Weekly Wisdom: Make plans, and life happens

Milestones: Any day now...

What the baby is up to:
Yow! If you feel a sort of lightening bolt running up and down your legs (and in your crotch), don’t freak out. At 38 weeks, baby’s probably sitting pretty low in your pelvis, which means he’s bumping into all kinds of nerves down there -- including some pretty sensitive ones you might not know you had. Be on the lookout for signs of labor, including contractions that come on stronger, at more regular intervals, and the “bloody show.” It could happen any day now -- or it might not be for a few weeks. Until then, try to relax.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Once again, I come back here just to try to figure out what to do with AJ and her sleeping issues.

How does one decide when a battle is worth fighting, or when to surrender for now, regroup and try again later?

AJ still wakes up. She still yells, cries, pleads. All she wants really is to sleep on the couch. If we fight the battle, she will wake up 1-6 times a night, no one in the house gets a decent night sleep and is therefore worse of the following day. AJ will also be up for the day by 5AM, at the latest. If we give in, and move her to the couch. She sleeps! She sleeps almost uninterrupted until around 6AM, sometimes later. M or I sleep on the couch with her too though, but it's a quiet

So, the path to a good night sleep is to let her sleep on the couch. The question then becomes, is sleep of any form more important than good sleeping habits?

We were really hoping to get AJ in a good sleeping situation before the new baby comes along, but it looks like once again, our plans are laughed at, and new resolutions need to be found.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Okay, so it's been a while. Should be interesting to see what has changed in the past month.

How Far Along: 34w

Total Weight Gain: According to my first appointment, I'm up a total of 19 pounds. Still pretty excited about that

Maternity Clothes: Yep, but I can still fit into some of my non-mat t-shirts

Sleep: Two Tums before bed helps with the heartburn. However, due to a cold and coughing, I have pulled muscles on both sides of my ribs. Add back pain and there is absolutely no way to sleep in bed right now. Hello couch, looks like we're going to be spending a lot of time together.

Cravings or Aversions: Nothing lately. I'm bummed by this. With AJ I wanted root beer all the time, and it was the best tasting root beer ever. Nothing tastes as good as satisfying a craving.

Best Moment This Week: As of today, whenever I go into labor it will end with a baby. No stopping us now.

Movement: Constant and crazy. Another non-sleeper I'm sure

Gender: Girl.

Labor Signs: Some braxton hicks, but nothing major.

Belly Button in or out: pretty flat most of the time.

What I miss: bending. I never realized how much I enjoy bending at the waist

What I'm Looking Forward to: working on the girls' room

Weekly Wisdom: Just because I'm ready to be done being pregnant does not mean I want this baby to come early.

Milestones: I'm not sure of any at this point.

What the baby is up to:
Watch what you say! Your curious baby is listening in to your conversations at 34 weeks -- and might enjoy a lullaby or two -- so go ahead and sing to him. Some say that baby will recognize songs mom sings while he’s in the womb, and may even be more easily soothed by them if he’s used to them once he’s on the “outside.” At week 34, you might breathe a little easier, since baby may descend lower into your pelvis and give your lungs some space. (Ahh!) Of course, some babies don’t do this until the day they’re born, so we’re not making any guarantees. The pitfall of this descent, of course, is even more pressure on your bladder, so be prepared to make even more trips to the ladies room over the coming weeks.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Total Weight Gain: According to my first appointment, I'm up a total of 13 pounds. Yay!

Maternity Clothes: Yep, but I can still fit into some of my non-mat t-shirts

Sleep: I finally broke down and bought some Tums. Of course, I haven't had a need of them since buying them, but that's good too.

Cravings or Aversions: McDonald's chicken nugget meals. Yep, has to be the whole meal, with a coke and dipping sauce. So much for that great weight gain amount.

Best Moment This Week: Feeling feet pushing around.

Movement: Constant and crazy. Another non-sleeper I'm sure

Gender: Girl.

Labor Signs: nope, but I had some BH for the first time.

Belly Button in or out: Still in, sort of

What I miss: Not getting punched in the crotch repeatedly

What I'm Looking Forward to: Breast feeding class next week. Should be interesting. Still not sure about it though

Weekly Wisdom: Family means well (repeat until believed)

Milestones: No more than 12 weeks left

What the baby is up to:
You’re probably already getting a little preview of baby’s personality, the more your feel him move. You might get some playful kicks and jabs, and start to feel little hiccups, too! At 29 weeks, he’s not just moving a lot, he’s also plumping up. And as he continues to put pressure on your digestive system, you’re going to feel the effects: hemorrhoids, heartburn, pelvic pain and frequent urination are all common at this stage in the game. Week 29 is a good time to start finalizing stuff, like stocking the nursery with baby care essentials and checking out a few potential day cares. You’ll also want to start packing a few things you know you’ll want with you at the hospital at baby’s birth. Leave it by the door, so you can add stuff you think of along the way -- and so you can grab it at a moment’s notice.

I really need to get going on getting things ready for this little one. I just can't seem to get in any rush to do anything. I have no idea what to bring to the hospital, we don't have sleepers for winter, and we haven't even figured out the room for sleeping situations with AJ. I feel bad since I was so super excited at this stage with AJ, having my shower around now, registering, etc. This time, eh, whatever. Poor girl.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Total Weight Gain: According to my first appointment, I'm up a total of 13 pounds. Yay!

Maternity Clothes: Yep, but I can still fit into some of my non-mat t-shirts

Sleep: heartburn or indigestion whatever it should be called has moved me to the couch a few times. Not a fan of sleeping sitting up.

Cravings or Aversions: Nothing really

Best Moment This Week: Passing the 1 hour GT test!!! Add to that, my iron levels were great, so no iron supplements this time either.

Movement: Constant and crazy. I'm losing hope on this one being my good sleeper.

Gender: Girl.

Labor Signs: nope.

Belly Button in or out: Still in, sort of

What I miss: Holding AJ for as long as I want. I'm finally starting to tire out faster when holding her.

What I'm Looking Forward to: Making cloth diapers

Weekly Wisdom: Each pregnancy really is different

Milestones: I just realized that in 90 days or less there will be a baby. Yikes!

What the baby is up to:
Welcome to the third trimester! Moms-to-be who are at 28 weeks and beyond are known for their lack of sleep. Remember if you find yourself up in the middle of the night, do something relaxing. This is not the time to vacuum the house from top to bottom -- even though you might feel the urge to do that at some point. Read a book, drink chamomile tea, listen to soothing music. Then try to get back to bed and get some rest! Being in the third trimester also means much of your and baby’s anatomy are ready to go -- she's prepping for breathing, and your breasts already have colostrum, which is what baby will eat the first few days until your milk comes in. You’ll also start feeling more Braxton Hicks contractions as your body gets ready for labor. Baby will keep getting bigger -- and smarter -- after week 28, and other than that, she just needs a few more finishing touches.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Total Weight Gain: Not sure yet. I know I'm up 10 from the start, so I'll find out soon

Maternity Clothes: Yep, but I can still fit into some of my non-mat t-shirts

Sleep: heartburn or indigestion whatever it should be called has moved me to the couch a few times. Not a fan of sleeping sitting up.

Cravings or Aversions: Nothing really

Best Moment This Week: Talking pregnancy with my sister-in-law who is 10w behind me with her first

Movement: Constant and crazy. I'm losing hope on this one being my good sleeper.

Gender: Girl.

Labor Signs: nope.

Belly Button in or out: Still in, sort of

What I miss: Sleeping without the body pillow

What I'm Looking Forward to: Possible job changes in the wind for either M or I

Weekly Wisdom: I know my limits

Milestones: 3rd tri, on some charts anyway

What the baby is up to:
At 27 weeks, baby is breathing (it’s amniotic fluid, not air, but it still counts) and even showing brain activity. You’ve got a lot on your brain, too, from wondering what labor and delivery is going to be like to trying to find the best pediatrician for baby. The annoying symptoms you’ve been having probably aren’t going away, but at least you’ve probably found some ways to deal with them -- and hey, maybe you’re used to them right now. As you say goodbye to the second trimester, you can look forward to some pretty embarrassing stuff (like having to pee all the time -- and maybe even when you don’t mean to at all) that’s all par for the late-pregnancy course. It’s time to head down the home stretch. Are you ready?

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Total Weight Gain: 9 pounds in 4 weeks. I knew it was coming. My total gain now is 10 pounds. Not bad, as long as the next 4 weeks does not give me another 9 pound gain.

Maternity Clothes: I hit up a big sale, and have clothes for fall. Now I just need the weather to change so I can wear them, and some compression socks so I can wear the fall boots I already own without them getting stuck on my swollen feet by the end of the day.

Sleep: Still okay for the most part.

Cravings or Aversions: Nothing really

Best Moment This Week: M and my get away

Movement: Constant and crazy. I'm losing hope on this one being my good sleeper.

Milestones: I have that horrid orange drink in the fridge. Just waiting, and taunting me with it's gross orange-y ness.

What the baby is up to:

Drink up! Around 24 weeks, your doctor will order a Glucose Tolerance Test -- one of the more memorable prenatal tests -- to see if you’re at risk for gestational diabetes. Basically, the test is designed to see how your body processes sugar, so you’ll be asked to drink a cup of a sweet drink called Glucola (which reminded us of Gatorade) and then hang out for an hour. Once the hour is up, you’ll have your blood drawn and then it will be tested to see how your body has processed the sugar. You know what’s also sweet? Those movements and kicks you’ve been feeling. They seem to get stronger every week. At week 24, baby’s progress isn’t just about internal stuff, it’s about her looks too. With pinker, more opaque skin, she’s looking more and more, well, like a baby. You, on the other hand, are probably experiencing some of the discomforts of the later months of pregnancy at week 24 -- leg cramps, backaches, swollen feet. Hang in there, mama-to-be!

your baby's the size of a papaya!

Your 10.5-to-11.8-inch fetus weighs about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces and every week she gets closer and closer to being ready to survive (and thrive!) in the outside world.

your baby at 24 weeks

Her see-through skin is gradually becoming more opaque.

And it's got a new pink glow, thanks to the small capillaries that have recently formed.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

How is it that a soul, tormented in this life, unable to find strength enough to make it even one more day, is then subjected to an eternity of more judgment and pain?

The Catholic Church will not hold a service for a person who took his/her own life. They call it a sin to take the life God gave. That soul is not allowed to Heaven, and the family is doubly punished by not being able to grieve the loss, or celebrate the life, of the tourtured soul in their own house of worship. A person who believes their life is worthless is then validated in that assumption by the Church turning their back after the loss of strength. Thus making what the disturbed soul thought of their life come to fruition by the lack of respect, love and kindness so touted by the Church. How is this not a slap in the face to the family and soul of the departed?

How am I to believe that Jesus, so sheathed in love and kindness, turns his back on one suffering to the ultimate extent. A person was unable to seek the strength of faith, the strength to overcome the obsticles put in front of him, the strength to go on, and now, after death, I'm supposed to believe (thanks to the Catholic belief) that he shows up in front of Jesus and Jesus turns away? Does this poor soul not need more love, more kindness, more patience than others?

What about the family of the departed? The mother of the "condemned soul" is not allowed to go into her "faith family" and pay a final respect to her son? She is told her son is the ultimate sinner for taking his life. How does this show Jesus' love? Does she not have enough guilt for not helping her own flesh and blood before it became too late, now she has Jesus frowning at her as well?

These are the questions I will be pondering as I celebrate the life, and mourn the loss of my cousin, while sitting in the chapel of a funeral home tomorrow. May he now find the strength and love he was unable to accept in this life.

Friday, August 26, 2011

We were on a roll. We had a routine that, although not ideal, was working and we were all sleeping.

DAMN YOU, TWO YEAR MOLARS!!!

AJ fell asleep at 9, woke up at 9:30 screaming. She was screaming for her blanket (which was on her), screaming for her doggie (which she was laying on), screaming for her milk (which she was holding). Just plain screaming, then she fell asleep again. Restless, whimpering sleep when she is sleeping, screaming when she's not. Oh what fun.

Now for coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. I'm sorry baby Cori for any jolt you may get from my caffine consumption today, but it's the only way to make it through work. So tired, I was already half out of the house when M reminded me putting shoes on would be a good idea. Days like this make me happy I don't have a really important job.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Total Weight Gain: I don't weigh myself between appointments. It's way too scary.

Maternity Clothes: I need to go shopping. Thankfully the change in weather is on it's way, and I realized I only have one pair of jeans and one long sleeve top. Not quite enough to get me through December.

Sleep: M is jealous that my body pillow is getting more action than he is.

Cravings or Aversions: Nothing really

Best Moment This Week: M and my get away

Movement: I think M is teaching her karate moves while I sleep, because that girl can kick my bladder like a ninja

Gender: Girl.

Labor Signs: Please no.

Belly Button in or out: In, but at night, it's the wierd mix. I'm hoping to not have the turkey timer this time around either.

What I miss: Nothing at the moment

What I'm Looking Forward to: Another OB appointment Monday. I get to ask some questions I've thought of based on my want to go natural in the highest c-section rate hospital in the state

Weekly Wisdom: I'm not feeling very wise this week

Milestones: I snissed this morning for the first time ever. Gah!

What the baby is up to:
At 23 weeks, baby’s really getting ready for her big debut, listening in on what’s going on in the outside world. And you’re getting ready too. Just remember: While having the nursery painted and stocking it with diapers is important, there are some other pressing things you should have on your radar. Namely, financials. Around week 23 is a good time to call your and your partner’s insurance agent to check how you’re currently covered and decide what adjustments you’ll want to make for baby. You might also want to start thinking about writing a will, if you don’t have one, or updating your current one. How’s baby’s savings account going? If you’re like, “what savings account?” that’s okay. But decide whether or not you want to start one for her. One study found that kids who have their own savings account are more likely to go to college, and another one estimated the average cost of raising a baby until age 18 to be over $226,000. Whoa!

your baby's the size of a papaya!

At about 10.5 to 11.8 inches and about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces, baby's not just getting bigger, she's getting even cuter.

your baby at 23 weeks

She's forming little nipples (yeah, really!)

Her face is fully formed now -- she just needs a little extra fat to fill it out.

She's listening to your voice and your heartbeat -- and even to loud sounds like cars honking and dogs barking.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Driving home from work today I realized, I completely forgot about the due date of the baby we lost. If that pregnancy would have lasted, and the baby came on that date, I would have a one-week old today. It's odd to think about. That baby and loss are in my mind often, but honestly, I never think of when that baby "should have been born". I then feel guilt for not being over emotional on the day that baby would have been due, especially when I hear about others dealing with the grief of the EDD that wasn't.

Right after the loss, I figured that date would be etched in my mind. I thought I would spend the next nine months re-living what would have been. Maybe it's because I got pregnant so quickly after, that the "what if" feeling didn't last that long? Maybe, but I'm not so sure.

After the loss, since it was complete at home, I felt that the baby was "born" on that date, January 7, 2011. It helped me to heal to think that the baby we never got to know, and I wasn't able to help grow, was born on the date he should have been. I have also come to think that the baby was in fact a "he". That was our son, I'm almost sure of it, if intuition has anything to say about it. If it wasn't, oh well, it helps me to think of it that way. He was born on the 7th of the month, just like AJ, my nephew, and niece.

I guess I think of the EDD as arbitrary (for me, in no way to others), as AJ's EDD. I don't think that "had AJ been born on her EDD, she'd be five days older than she is". I celebrate the date she was actually born. So, if this is my thought process, August 17, 2011 was not as big of a deal as I thought it was going to be, but I'm pretty sure January 7, 2012 will be much more difficult for me.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Friday, M surprises me by telling me he made arrangements for my mother to watch AJ Saturday and Sunday, and he booked a hotel for us, so we're getting away. He wasn't going to tell me until Saturday, but thankfully my mother stepped in, and reminded him (again) how I hate surprises. It was a very thoughtful gesture though.

So, Saturday morning we packed up and headed up to the mountains. We did some shopping at the outlets, which are fantastic. I picked up some needed clothes for the new baby, a fleece one piece, 3 pairs of socks and a pair of pants for $15. Yay! M found a new pair of Adidas running sneakers, final price $15! Woot! Unfortunately I couldn't find anything either AJ or I really needed, so we were out of luck in the shopping department.

After the outlets, and dodging the downpours that spouted up from no where (it was still sunny, but pouring), we headed down the long road to the hotel to see if we could find anything interesting on the ride. Since we had only had breakfast and it was now 3PM, we decided an early dinner would be a good plan. We came across a wood grille restaurant and it was fantastic. We had fantastic dinners, M enjoyed a local brew and we both scorched our mouths on the dessert that was heated up in that wood grill. Ouch!

Check in at the hotel didn't go as amazingly. Apparently hotels.com never forwarded the info for our reservation, and the resort stopped taking reservations 4 days earlier. Thankfully the lady said we could upgrade to a penthouse free of charge. So, we head up the mountain to the room. And up the mountain it is. What an amazing view though

We noticed the room only had 10 channels, and decided to head back to town to find something do to for the night. What can two parents without kids do to spend an evening? Mini-golf of course. It was a blast. We threw out the score card before the first hole, and just had fun. After, we went back to the resort and checked things out, they were doing karaoke near the main clubhouse, and that was painfully bad. I still have Beiber stuck in my head, and being attempted by a scared 10 year old made it that much worse. The game room had pool, so we tried our luck with that. Turns out pool is not my game. Although I still believe I should get super genius points for actually trying to play correctly and not getting a single ball in any hole for 20 minutes. It should be like that jump a peg game and extra points given for leaving so many pegs without a move to be made. Eh, someday I'll find a game I'm not horrible at.

A dip in the pool, then back to the room for TV and bed. It was a long day.

Of course, I'm in a quiet room, AC cranked, no kid and I wake up at 5:30AM. Ugh! At least I had a good sunrise to watch

I wake M up at 6:30, because I'm bored, it's cold out on the deck in just shorts and a tank top, (didn't expect to need warmer clothing). Well, we get ready for the day, I go to the slider to lock up the deck and see this

We looked for the Mama, but she must have crossed before we were looking. It was really amazing to see this. We checked out of the hotel, and went to breakfast before our planned hike in the woods.

I've been up in the mountains a lot in my life, but not for hiking very often. Mainly it's just for shopping. I was determined to get my round self into the beautiful area we were in and enjoy it, without a wallet.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Sunday we had an ice cream party for AJ's birthday. In our bar of toppings, we had bananas. I purchased a bunch of six. One sad little banana was used at the party. As M and I hate bananas plain, we tried to pawn the remaining off on AJ. She had one, and that was plenty for her unfortunately. So as the week wore on, I had to stare at those bananas getting more brown by the hour and knew that baking would be done on my day off.

In my plan of baking I realize a huge error on my part, I have almost a cup of sugar and absolutely no butter in the house. Hmmm, well, that makes things interesting.

When my obvious recipes fail me, I go to allrecipes.com. There's always someone else there who had to alter a recipe to work with their ingredients or taste preferances. Thankfully, I found something I could work with. Sarah's Banana Bread Muffins

For the changes, I put in all four bananas, because, really, what am I going to do with one overripe banana? Also, has anyone eating a banana baked good ever complained that it was too banana-y? I'm getting a little tired of typing banana, and I have Gwen Stefani sining in my head now.

Ok, so all the fruit is in, since there is extra, I switch one cup of AP flour for whole wheat. Now it's a healthy baked good, which makes it better when I eat more. I also added some cinnamon. I like baking with cinamon, it makes me happy, and feels like fall, even when the house is 85 degrees.

The ones hot out of the oven tasted great. All soft muffin-y. This morning I had one straight off the counter, without heating, and it was a bit dry for my liking. Maybe it was the whole wheat flour, or maybe it was just telling me next time to buy more butter for smearing.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Total Weight Gain: I don't weigh myself between appointments. It's way too scary.

Maternity Clothes: Yep

Sleep: Okay, it's starting to get a bit uncomfortable though.

Cravings or Aversions: Nothing really

Best Moment This Week: The constant movement, and finaly feeling comfortable calling her by name occasionally.

Movement: Yep, she's a mover, and on my bladder. Fun times.

Gender: Girl.

Labor Signs: Please no.

Belly Button in or out: In, but at night, it's the wierd mix. I'm hoping to not have the turkey timer this time around either.

What I miss: Nothing at the moment

What I'm Looking Forward to: I'm in the happy time right now, not too uncomfortable yet, not sick anymore. It's all good.

Weekly Wisdom: "Only people whom you trust completely, who approve of your birth plan and who you don't mind seeing you nake should be present at the birth." - Your Best Birth
I'm leaving this one for now. I'm still trying to figure this part out.

Milestones: Ummm

What the baby is up to:
During week 22, baby is invading your space, which is why it might be tough to catch your breath and why your back might be killing you. Hey, as she grows, she may be expanding your belly so much (so fast) that you might have some stretch marks -- and you might even have a newfound â€œouttieâ€! What's not so cool is that the stretch marks may never fade, but we promise they'll fade in color after delivery. And your outtie will go back to an innie, we promise. As for sex, all these body changes, along with another fun one -- discharge! -- might be messing with your mojo, but some moms-to-be actually find they have an increase in libido around 22 weeks. That's because your hormones are pretty much raging at this point. This is also a good time to schedule a maternity portrait session. You'll want to aim for the third trimester -- but not so late that you risk going into labor before your appointment.

your baby's the size of a papaya!
During month five, the average fetus measures about 10.5 to 11.8 inches and weighs about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces.

your baby at 22 weeks Now that he's got more developed eyes and lips, he's looking even more like a newborn.
He's sleeping in cycles -- about 12 to 14 hours per day (hint: they're probably those times you're not feeling any kicks!).

Monday, August 15, 2011

So, a few weeks ago I saw the Rainbow cake on Pinterest. It looked so cool, I knew I wanted to try it for AJ's birthday. Never mind that she doesn't really like cake. I just wanted to challenge myself. So, I took this:

And by the time I was finished with it, it looked like this:

The inside looked fantastic. It was a show stopper for all the guests, which was the whole point really. The kids loved all the colors and were fighting over which "flavor" was their favorite. Apparently blue tastes much better than orange. The adults were impressed and even commented about how I got the rainbow in order. Well of course, why bother if not to get the rainbow in order?

Now for the issues:

The cake batter was really easy to make. I divided the batter by spoonfuls rather than weight since I don't have a food scale. The coloring was fun, I finally broke out my cake decorating tackle box for the first time in a while.

The first issue came when trying to get the cake out of the pans. I didn't follow the directions in that I didn't have parchment paper to line the pan, just shortening and flour. The orange came out great, the green and yellow tore when trying to get them out. Second batch, I over prepped the pans, so the blue and purple came out easy, just needed to scrape the flour paste off the bottom. The red still stuck. Oh well, that's what frosting is for.

Now on to the frosting: I tried Martha's frosting listed in the recipe, a merenge buttercream. The first batch broke. The butter turned all grainy. I think the eggs were still too warm when the butter was added. I tried a second batch. This one looked fantastic, so this is where my mother (my assistant for the day), and I, took a break for lunch.

Sidenote: We found the most amazing Greek restaurant in my town. I want to get M there, since he has actually eaten real Greek food, you know, like from Greece, so he can be a judge.

Anywho... we get back and the fantastic looking batch of frosting is now soup. ARGH! Ok. Two batches gone, 14 eggs gone. Martha is no longer my hero. Time to try something else. We go back to a regular buttercream, tried and true. It's much sweeter than I had hoped for, but it worked.

The cake looked great when we were done. We did a texture design and it looked like a fluffy snowball. Super cute. Well, Sunday, party day, was about as humid as it can get without actually raining. I check the amazing cake, and half the frosting is sliding off the side. Fantabulous! Move it to the basement, since the fridge is full of party stuff, and hope for the best. I am so thankful for the texture technique, as it's so easy to fix.

In the end, the cake was a success. Thankfully the awesomness of the cake overrode the sweetness of the frosting.

Monday, August 8, 2011

It's that time of year, and although I only planted one, we still have managed to obtain a few of those greeen squash from well meaning family and friend farmers. Which means, I have to find something to do with all these things before they go bad. The real kicker, we aren't a vegetable house. Unless it's salad, we don't eat much for veggies. M and AJ love peas, and I'll eat cooked green beans, but that's it for cooked veggies. Hmmm, dilema dilema

So, how to solve this problem? BAKE!

Zucchini Brownies
from allrecipes
Ingredients

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups white sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups shredded zucchini

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup margarine

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/4 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

In a large bowl, mix together the oil, sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, 1/2 cup cocoa, baking soda and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Fold in the zucchini and walnuts. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until brownies spring back when gently touched. To make the frosting, melt together the 6 tablespoons of cocoa and margarine; set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, blend together the confectioners' sugar, milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in the cocoa mixture. Spread over cooled brownies before cutting into squares.

I skipped the frosting. I didn't drain the zucchini, or add nuts and it came out very moist and cake like. Quite tasty

Directions

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, spices and baking soda.
In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and fluffy. Add sugar, and continue beating until well blended. Stir in oil, vanilla, zucchini, pecans, chocolate chips, and orange zest. Stir in sifted ingredients. Pour into prepared loaf pans.
Bake for 50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove loaves from pans and cool. Chill before slicing.

I added walnuts because that's what I had on hand and skipped her suggestions for garnish and the orange zest since we didn't have any. I also used a full bag (12 oz) of chocolate chips. Why leave those sad 4 oz in the bag? A little extra chocolate has never been complained of in this house.

And because I felt bad about baking and not having anything relatively healthy

1. Preheat oven to 425° F. Grease a large oven-proof wire rack set on a baking sheet.

2. Whisk together bread crumbs, Parmesan, salt, onion powder and pepper in a medium bowl. Place milk in a separate shallow bowl. Dip zucchini slices in milk then in breadcrumb mixture patting the crumbs on. Place slices on wire rack. Repeat until all are coated.

3. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately with basil dipping sauce if desired.
I made a dipping sauce based loosely on what I saw there, but didn't have many of the ingredients listed, so I just used sour cream, mayo and dried Italian Seasoning. Not amazing, but enough.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

I am shocked, amazed, dumfounded and just plain relieved. AJ fought sleep and sleep won! It took about a week, with the few setbacks in part 2. M still asks silly questions "Are we moving AJ to her bed or leaving her on the couch?" being a repeated one. I still can't figure out the reasoning behind that one, but at least he's asking so I can tell him NO!!!! We're not leaving her on the couch, we're putting her in her bed, in her room, alone.

We put her in her bed. She wakes up and cries. We talk to her until she calms down about how she needs to stay in her room and sleep, and we sleep in our room. She calms down. We walk out. She takes everything off her bed and piles it up by the gate. She beds down there and stays, quietly sleeping until 5-6AM (which, saidly is the same time she normally stays in bed).

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Saturday night starts off much the same as Friday night. AJ falls alseep on the couch by 9 and is moved to her bed. Two hours later, she wakes.

It is a repeat of the night before. Thankfully though, this time without the horrid screams. Just normal, every day screaming, yelling and conniving to get out. Much the same pattern as the night before ensues. The only changes being this time I don't go in her room at all. The 5 minute interval is met with me telling her to go to sleep at the gate. This time also, instead of me even attempting my own bed, I just head straight for the couch.

It continues. 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 then 15 repeats. This time though, it only took 1 hour and 37 minutes for her to fall asleep, at the gate with Doggie and Blanket of course, but whatever, it's improvement. She does the usual slight wake up, call for me, and falls back to sleep after I tell her to.

At 5AM she's awake again. Stands at the gate "Mama, all done". Ugh! My cue to start the day. I get her out, she uses the potty, heads to the couch. While I'm getting her the asked for juice, she falls asleep. Sadly, I'm now awake for the day, while her and M sleep for another 2 hours. At least Sam and I got a good walk in that morning. (I did let M know I was leaving and it was up to him to listen for AJ).

Night 3

Fall asleep on couch, move to bed, awake and at the gate 2 hours later. Everything follows the same as Night 2. No horrible screaming, no real screaming at all, just the yelling and trying any word she can think of to be let out of her room. This time, it only took a total of 46 minutes for silence, and asleep at the gate. I begin to think that we may be on to something here. However, it's now Monday morning and M politely informs me that I look like a zombie. Thanks for that!

Night 4

Because of M's kind comment that morning, he generously offers to take Monday night so I can get some rest. I agree of course. AJ is half his kid, so the sleep issues are half his problem. Plus, he's been home the past three nights, he knows how the routine is going. Right? Um... well

I'm not sure exactly how the night goes. I know AJ wakes up after the requisite 2 hours of sleep in her bed. I know M gets in and out of bed a lot, but honestly I'm just too tired to care.

When the alarm sounds I realize M isn't in the room. I head to the living room and find him asleep on one side of the couch and AJ asleep on the other. I wake him up for work and ask how the night went. He said okay. That she was up every two hours. Interesting, since this hasn't been her routine for the past few nights. I then ask how he handled it. He informs me that he laid down on her floor until she fell asleep then went back to bed, and kept on doing that all night long. WTF!!! Where had he been during our conversation of "we're not going to sleep on her floor anymore". Was he even there when I spent the past three nights getting up every few minutes to get her back to calm down and hopefully fall asleep on her own, alone in her room? I try not to yell. I try not to get mad. But I have to ask why? Why would you ruin the past 3 nights of work? He replies "it got her to sleep and then I could go to sleep, so what's the issue?"

In the words of Charlie Brown AAARRRRGGGGHHHH

Night 5

I get home from work yesterday and find AJ is sleeping. It's 6PM and mother in law, who watches AJ on Tuesdays informs me that she fell asleep at 3:30 and she wasn't sure if she should wake her or if she might sleep through the night. What? You mean the kid who for the past 2 years has slept more than 9 hours consecutively so few times I could count them on one hand, you think she will sleep through the night? 3:30PM-6AM. Really? I wake the monster.

Anyway... AJ finally falls asleep around 9:30PM. Not too bad considering the late nap. At 10 I go to bed. M asks if he should move her to her bed or leave her on the couch. My only response is "why?"

2 hours later, she's awake, at the gate. I start off with my usual routine outside the gate, tell her to go to sleep, yadda yadda yadda. I take one step away from her room and the screaming begins. Oh thank you M for doing things differently the night before. Now she's back to thinking she can get her way. The whole cycle has started over. I've now stopped looking at the clock for intervals. I just lay on the couch, telling her to go to sleep whenever she stops yelling long enough to take a breath, and when she seems like she needs it, go to the gate so she can see that I am really there, do care, but will not give in. It wasn't as bad as Night 1, but it wasn't good either.

I guess I'll be on sleep duty from now on. I wonder if M planned it that way?

The battle between AJ, sleep and me continues. Friday I decided I had enough. No more would I sleep on AJ's floor. The belly is too big to sleep comfortably on a soft surface, so the floor is no more. Plus, there is no good reason why I should be there anymore anyway. She is fine, not sick, not teething, has had plenty of time to get used to the transition from crib to bed. It's not justifiable anymore. So, Friday...yeah

M or I, I have no idea who actually started the night off, but through one of us, AJ ended up in her bed after falling asleep on the couch. This is the usual way of things in our house, bad habit I know, but it's what has worked for 2 years, so don't fix what ain't broke, as they say.

Like clockwork, 2 hours later, around 11:30PM, AJ wakes up. She calls for Mama and heads to the baby gate that is locked at her doorway. She begins to yell for me. I get up and get AJ back to her bed. Tell her this is her room and I'm going to sleep in my room. She is adament that I should be sleeping right at the side of her bed, but I hold strong. Not this time honey.

After calming her down, I tell her I'm going back to my room. She is quiet until my head hits my pillow (how do they know that exact moment?). Calling for me again, running to the locked gate again. I get up again. This time, I don't go into her room, but stay on my side of the gate. Tell her to go to sleep, and when she stops crying I walk away and back to bed. I tell M I'm giving her 5 minutes to fight and I'll go back. So, after 5 minutes of her screaming her fool head off, I go back to my side of the gate. Repeat directions "go to sleep. You sleep here, I sleep in my room" and after the "I love you, good night", I head back to bed, telling H 7 minutes this time.

So now we're on 7 minutes of screaming. This isn't the regular I'm annoyed type scream. Oh no, not AJ, she goes full out "someone just ripped off my leg and is beating me with it" type of scream. At one point I asked M when he thought the blue lights would appear out our front door (the windows were open and since we can hear the pet bird in the apartment complex across the intersection from us, which means we have 3 neighbors even closer, they can definitely hear the screams).

After watching the clock tick by 7 minutes, I go back to the gate and repeat above procedure. Then go back to bed for another round. 9 minutes this time. Yep, same scream, same thoughts through our head. We move to 11 minutes. Instead of going back to bed I ask M if he can sleep through the fight. Of course being the man that he is, he informs me he can. Ugh! So I close the bedroom door and head to the couch, at least one of us will be rested the next day.

So where was I, oh yeah, 11 minutes and me on the couch. Finally the horrid screaming has stopped, but the fight continues.

13 minutes, then 15 minutes. Now instead of just screaming, she has gotten trickey. She starts with Mama, repeat a good 10 times. Then moves to Daddy, repeat 10 times. When niether of those requests are met with the adequate answer, i.e. something other than me telling her to go to sleep, she changes tactics. Juice, repeat 10 times. Hmm, that didn't work, how about Milk, repeat of course. Nope. Challenging, but not to be deterred, ah, now she knows, Potty, repeat. She was less than impressed when this was met with me calling back to her, you're in a diaper, no need for the potty. Foiled again.

After asking for things didn't work, and we're on the first of the 15 minute intervals she goes for obvious with "Mama, I stuck. Open it." in a very calm voice.

After the second 15 minute interval goes by and she still isn't getting what she wants, she starts another approach. It's known in our house that AJ will not sleep without Doggie (a pillow pet) and Blanket (a blanket my mother made for her before she was born). These are a given, and no matter the heat level in the house, she WILL NOT sleep without these items. So what does my little stubborn princess do? Why, throw Doggie and Blanket over the gate of course. Now she feels I need to either get them for her or let her out so she can get them herself. Ah, she's a smart cookie that's for sure.

Finally, 2 hours and 23 minutes later... silence. She has actually fallen asleep. During the night she wakes up enough to call for me, like she always did when I was sleeping on her floor, and since I was closeby in the living room still, I tell her to go back to sleep. She does!

When I walk past her room to the bathroom I see where she fell asleep. Right in front of the gate with Doggie and Blanket. It's so sad.

Total Weight Gain: 1 POUND!!! I can't believe it. I was up 10 at this point with AJ. However, I am starting 10 pounds heavier than I did with AJ, so I guess it all evens out, but it was nice to hear that I've only gained 1. I still hold my breath every time I get on that office scale, because I know one day soon it's going to jump.

Maternity Clothes: Oh yeah. I've had to officially retire most all of my non-maternity shirts. I attempted another one, and although it fit fine in the morning, by mid day I was hiking it down all over again.

Sleep: Better. M bought a new body pillow for me. The one I used with AJ has been sitting in the closet since we moved and smells like old shoes. Not really what I want to cuddle with at night.

Cravings or Aversions: Nothing really

Best Moment This Week: Seeing our little girly, gaining 1 pound, thinking of re-doing the bedroom from AJ's room to the girls' room, oh and figuring out what will probably be girly's name. Cordelia nn Cori, middle name yet to be finalized.

Movement: Yep, she's a mover.

Gender: Girl.

Labor Signs: Please no.

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: Nothing much right now.

What I'm Looking Forward to: Shopping for the few needed items for this little girl.

Weekly Wisdom: Two people with six brothers are going to see what sisters are like

Milestones: Half baked!

What the baby is up to:

your baby's the size of a cantaloupe!

Baby weighs about 10.2 ounces and measures about 6.5 inches. She's still got a lot of growing to do though. Can you believe you're halfway done?

your baby at 20 weeks

She's got working taste buds.

Now, she's gulping down several ounces of amniotic fluid each day -- that's significantly more than before.

Friday, July 29, 2011

There SHE is. Our healthy baby girl. Stubborn as all get out, but amazing. It took a long time and a lot of jiggling to get even this good of a pic of her. She did not want her profile taken. I'm thankful there's no finger sticking up from that hand, because I think she was about at that point by the end of the scan yesterday. The tech had me laying on my back for a while, but coudln't get the right side appendages, so I moved to my left side. There the tech was pushing and digging trying to get all the veiws she needed. The crotch shot was very obvious anyway and the tech, M and I all saw those three lines. Once the left sided digging got the views she needed for the tests, she had me go back on my back to see if Girly would move around and we could get some "pretty pictures" as the tech said. Nope, Girly just settled back to where she was before. The tech then tried jiggling me, and appologizing as she could also see my bladder on the scan. Um... yeah.

Anyway, we have a healthy girl on the way and are so happy. Granted M was a slight bit bummed because this is more than likely it for us and no son, but he's pretty happy about having his house full of girls.

So, now we have two projects in the works.

1) Trying to figure out how to fit two kids, clothes, beds and toys into one room. M went into the attic to see what we had for clothes and came down with 3 totes full. Each of them had something that mentioned 3 month size, so I have a lot of sorting to do. We also picked up a dresser at Goodwill yesterday. A 5-drawer chest for $7.99. Score! I'm really hoping it fits in the closet, but we'll see. Currently it's in M's mother's van as we didn't have the space in the car with AJ in her seat in the back.

2) Name! Oh this one isn't going to be fun. I have a list of names that I don't mind, not all of them I love, but they're at least ones I'll consider. There are 108 names on this list. M gives me his top two choices. They aren't on my list. Not only are they not on my list, they're on my "No way in you know where" list. Oh joy, looks like we have a long road ahead of us.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Total Weight Gain: I'm not sure, but I know it's something. I've been eating like crazy lately. Generally not always the best choices either.

Maternity Clothes: I'm getting sick of the choices I have right now. I have one pair of maternity shorts. Not very helpful in a heatwave. Many skirts, but thanks to thigh chafe, that's not a great alternitive in those hot and humid days.

Sleep: Still having issues with AJ, but have been able to get her down and go back to my own bed. Due to heat though, the bedroom is a sauna, as is most of the rest of the house, so I found some interesting sleeping positions, M's fav was me on the floor in front of the fan next to the dog. Thankfully the heat broke for this week and it has been much better.

Cravings or Aversions: Still mainly Pepsi, but I wouldn't call it a true craving, just a want. I haven't had a true "I NEED TO HAVE THAT NOW" feeling yet.

Best Moment This Week: Tomorrow, tomorrow, I'll see this one, tomorrow

Movement: Yep, still that flippity flopity feeling.

Gender: 30 hours from now I hope this little one cooperates.

Labor Signs: Please no.

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: Having my summer clothes fit.

What I'm Looking Forward to: Either going through AJ's old clothes or figuring out what we need for a boy. I'm so antsy for this.

Weekly Wisdom: It is possible to wait 19 weeks to see LO for the first time, no matter what you read on thebump first tri boards.

Milestones: anatomy scan tomorrow! Did I happen to mention that yet?

What the baby is up to:Baby's now the size of a mango!Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil, and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

This is basically the conversation I've been having with myself for a while now. Every day I go to work, I realize all over again how done with it I am. I've been at the same job for 9 years. That's nearly one-third of my life doing the same thing. I have never had any enjoyment with this job, other than that brief joy of payday. But even that isn't enough to get me through the funk.

When I started here I was just out of college. I said "I'll work here until I get some experience and move on. This is not what I want to do with my life." After a couple years, that changed to "I'll work here until I get married, then I'll find something else". After that, "We're moving, I'll find something else when we figure out what town we'll be moving to". Then the job market tanked and ... well, here I am, still at the same desk, doing the same routine day after day. I can't stand a good portion of the job and although this is by no means a bad place to work, I just can't believe I've been stuck in this rut for so long.

I went to college to get in this field. Why? Because I worked at the campus bookstore during my first semester, Liberal Studies major, and started looking at books to see what would be the most interesting. I loved the books that went with this line of work, so I made that my major. Not the best way to decide your fate.

So, here I am, almost a decade older and still no closer to figuring out what I really want to do with my life. However, I don't know how much longer I can keep on keeping on. The commute, the routine, the tedious details, they're all adding up and I'm afraid I will snap soon. I have to do something, but what?

I'm hoping some idea will come to me in the next few months, and maybe, just maybe, I won't have to come back after maternity leave. ::fingers crossed::

Total Weight Gain: Still none! Woot!!! Well, that was as of last week. However, the never ending pit of hunger has started up since then, and my sweet tooth has been rediscovered. So, um, yeah.

Maternity Clothes: I'm still wearing non maternity shirts and dresses occasionally. Although last week I left for work in a non-maternity shirt. It fit okay, not great, when I left home. By lunch, I was showing the belly and had to hike the skirt up to make up for the extra lunch belly.

Sleep: Still on AJ's floor more often than not, and now that the belly and back sleeping have become uncomfortable, I'm not sleeping much at all. It's very hard to find a comfortable position on a wood floor.

Cravings or Aversions: Soda, namely Pepsi. I'm trying to limit this craving as I could go all out, but thankfully whenever H buys me a 6-pack he'll very generously drink 4 of the 6 so I don't have to worry about it. Yeah, thanks M. We don't usually have soda in the house, so he's going a little overkill on this one. I am still very impressionable when watching food on TV though.

Best Moment This Week: More movement. I am starting to feel actual movement and not the is it/isn't it bubbles.

Movement: See above

Gender: Hopefully finding out next week. EEEP!!!

Labor Signs: Please no.

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach when on the floor.

What I'm Looking Forward to: Still so antsy for the anatomy scan

Weekly Wisdom: There really is a baby in there

Milestones:

What the baby is up to:Baby's now the size of a sweet potato!Baby's become amazingly mobile (compared to you, at least), passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that you'll soon be able to feel her movements

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

I swear I'm not one of those parents. You know, the one who will get their child everything and anything they ask for. I actually don't buy AJ much at all. I think I've bought maybe 15 outfits for her, and although I am one to give in to an impulse buy at the store here and there, it's never for a big ticket item. Those are reserved for Christmas and birthdays. So how did I get in the predicament that I have no idea what to get my child for her upcoming birthday?

She seriously lacks for nothing. She has toys galore, bags of clothes, a bookshelf stuffed full. She has a bike, a scooter, a laptop, a camera, heck the dog has even basically become hers. What else could this little person need?

Thanks to the enormous generosity of some great friends and family we have been able to get hand-me-downs from four different families. I am so truly blessed to have these people and these things as it has been such a help. However, I feel like I should give my daughter something for her birthday. But what? I have been racking my brain trying to think of what to do, but have not been able to come up with one good idea.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

M had a thought a while ago to host a cookout at our house for his Reservist buddies. We live really close to where they meet up, and no one else does. They spend Saturday night in a hotel, so it sounded like a great idea. When he brought up this plan, he was all about how we could make this, or have that. As it got closer, he said people were offering to help by bringing things. Fantastic!

Just before leaving for work yesterday morning I get the list from M, finally, after pestering him about it for a week at least, and we have 11 people saying they're coming. Of those 11, 4 have offered to help by bringing something. Person 1: drinks, Person 2: drinks, Person 3: drinks, Person 4: drinks. ?!?!? Hmmm, okay. Well at least I don't have to deal with figuring out what people like to drink.

Last night M tells me he is going to do what he can to help out. Thank you M, that is great. I head to the grocery store to pick up some fixings and he is going to help out at home. I get home and the gas tank on the grill has been refilled. Yay! Unfortunately the lawn isn't mowed. Hmmm, I get inside and he's watching TV. Okay. I bring in the groceries and he is still watching TV. I ask if he's going to help out, and he assures me he will. I get things together to make up the salad sides, and he continues to watch TV. Eh, it's hot, I don't feel like making up the sides either. There's always tomorrow.

So the cookout is today. M gets up early and heads off to drill. I stare at the house. 11 people will be showing up this afternoon. I get to make up 5 pounds of potato salad, 2 pounds of pasta salad, clean up the house, and try to keep it clean with AJ "helping". Set up the backyard for company. Since it's just AJ and me, no lawn mowing will be done today. Oh well, it's not that bad, really. M texts me saying that every one wants to change at our house, so now I get to make sure the bedrooms are at least change worthy clean, as well as scrubbing down the bathroom.

So, M has the idea for the cookout and I get to do the work for it. Yep, I love when "we" means "me". Oh well, at least I know who will be manning the grill, and I can guaranty it won't be me.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Maternity Clothes: I am mostly in maternity now. Some tops/dresses still look huge, but they are comfortable, so whatever.

Sleep: The back pain went away, mainly due to AJ needing me to sleep on her floor for the past few days. Hopefully that will end soon though, even if the back pain comes back.

Cravings or Aversions: Nothing at the moment. I am very impressionable when watching food on TV though.

Best Moment This Week: Second OB appointment tomorrow

Movement: Still nothing definite, but there have been more moments of Hmmm, maybe

Gender: I'm going to take my guess out of this until the end of the month. I had a strong feeling last week that I knew the name of this baby, so of course I got a feeling on the sex. I haven't talked names with M at all though, so we'll see what he says once we know which way we're going.

Labor Signs: Please no.

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: Nothing right now. I'm pretty happy at the moment

What I'm Looking Forward to: So antsy for the anatomy scan

Weekly Wisdom: I am aware of the chance of having a Christmas baby. I don't need it pointed out everytime someone else hears the date.

Milestones: 4 months

What the baby is up to:Baby's now the size of an avocado!Watch what you say...tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean she can now pick up your voice. A few more minuscule changes: Eyebrows, lashes, and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Wednesday is my week change and I keep forgetting on Mondays, so this is the new plan.

How Far Along: 15w

Total Weight Gain: ?

Maternity Clothes: All snaps/zippers/buttons have been retired until 2012. Not quite into maternity shirts completely, but some are working out okay.

Sleep: Head cold + back pain = sleeping on the couch when I can

Cravings or Aversions: I went on a pizza making spree this weekend. Thankfully I found recipes to make my own crust and sauce, so that helps both the wallet and the scale.

Best Moment This Week: Monday I got my first comment from a stranger. Guess I'm looking more pregnant than I thought

Movement: I'm starting to feel antsy about feeling movement. I keep thinking Is this it? Then I always pass it off to gas. I'm guessing some of those bubbles aren't really gas though.

Gender: Still thinking girl, now that's based on the fact that M and I have come to agreement on two possible boy names, and can't even narrow down our list of over 100 possible girl names.

Labor Signs: Please no.

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: Not looking fat in photographs. I just saw lots of pics taken over Father's Day. Ugh!

What I'm Looking Forward to: Going through AJ's clothes, if it is in fact a girl.

Weekly Wisdom: I'm pregnant, not disabled.

Milestones: Nothing major this week, just chugging along.

What the baby is up to:Baby's now the size of a naval orange!Continuing the march toward normal proportions, baby's legs now out-measure his arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably can't feel the movements just yet.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

I posted earlier about turning AJ's crib into a toddler bed. M and I decided to do it on Friday so we'd have a few days free from obligations requiring high funtioning. We were both counting on some rough nights, and probably figured I'd be sleeping on her floor again. I asked some friends before the switch for advice, I wanted to be fully prepared for what we were about to go through.

Background: AJ is a horrible sleeper. Since the day she came home from the hospital she has fought sleep. Getting her to sleep in a crib was rough. Having her take naps was insane. Every person we came into contact with who had a kid has tried to help with advice or the one I love "give her to me, I'll get her to sleep" and all have failed. She just hates to sleep.

So, M and I were ready for a long haul. We changed over her bed. She played in there for maybe half an hour and moved on. We did the bedtime routine just like normal. However for us, the bedtime routine is quiet time in the living room with her favorite comfort things until she falls asleep or 9PM. Which ever comes first. She fell asleep, and M moved her into her room. I was up most of the night anticipating her.

At 3:30AM I hear a thud and then a cry. I rush into her room ready for her to fight me to put her back to bed. I pick her up, get her tucked in again, and she's out. Yay! Beginners luck though, it has to be.

Nope. The next night, she wakes up once because her beloved Doggie fell out of bed and she couldn't find it. I go in, give her Doggie back and she's out again. This is even with a rough night of coughing due to a lovely summer cold.

Since that second night, we haven't had to go in at all. I'm so excited.

Friday, June 24, 2011

This is what M and I did to AJ's bed tonight. We have decided it's time for another challenge. Bedtime was getting too easy, so we figured we'd take the kid that hates to sleep and remove the cage. Oh, this should be fun.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

So, Sunday was Father's Day. I asked M earlier in the week what he would like for a meal. Since we had plans for the evening, that left breakfast. He said "well, I have an idea, but I know you'd never make it". Okay, now I knew this was one of two things, either sausage gravy and biscuits or SOS. Both of which make my stomach turn just watching him eat, let alone thinking of eating it myself. Anyway, he (thankfully) goes with the gravy and biscuits. I can deal with that, I think. Off to the internet to figure out how to make such things as I have never in my life made biscuits or white gravy.

Saturday night we were vising with M's family and M mentions what I'm making for him for Father's Day. Everyone is really excited and the invite themselves over for breakfast. Ummm fantastic. Okay, so now I need to hit up the grocery store when they open at 7AM, pick up what I need for the extra 6-9 people who will be showing up, then get home and attempt a first ever meal with an audience. Joy.

Well, I figured, biscuits = southern; southern = Paula Deen; so Paula Deen biscuit recipe should = perfection. Ah, no. I'm not sure where the error occurred, but I'm fairly positive that if I had attempted to make these biscuits anywhere south of Virginia I would be tarred, feathered and catapulted back to New England. They weren't hockey pucks, but they sure weren't fluffy Cracker Barrell goodness either. Guess I need a lot more work on biscuit making should we ever get the urge to move south. Thankfully no one complained, they just added more gravy.

I found a recipe for sausage gravy and the picture looked similar to what I remember M being served when we'd go out for breakfast, at least before I put my menu up to block the sight of him actually eating the stuff. I was amazed at how easy it was. The only issue I had was at the end when I needed to know if the seasoning was correct. I had to enlist M's help to taste test. I don't know what the taste is supposed to be, and even knowing the ingredients, I still couldn't bring myself to actually taste that stuff.

So, one good one bad, but here are the recipes I used for M's big meal. Not sure if I'll be getting a second request for this one though.

Paula Deen's Biscuits (from foodnetwork.com) I should have known there would be an issue when no cook temp was set. Online reviews gave me an idea.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoons sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

8 tablespoons butter, cubed

3/4 cup milk

Directions

In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together. Cut butter into mixture until it begins to look like cornmeal.

Make a well with flour mixture and slowly add milk into the middle. Knead dough with your fingers and add milk when necessary. Roll out dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to desired thickness. Cut with small biscuit cutter.
Butter bottom of skillet and place biscuits in pan. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Super Sausage Gravy from Allrecipes/Bob Evans

Ingredients

1 pound Bob Evans® Original Recipe Sausage Roll

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups milk

Salt and black pepper to taste

8 prepared biscuits

Directions

Crumble and cook sausage in large skillet over medium heat until browned. Stir in flour until dissolved. Gradually stir in milk. Cook gravy until thick and bubbly. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot over biscuits. Refrigerate leftovers.

Welcome!

This is the world of me and my family. Random ramblings of whatever is going on in my life at the time I think to put it into text. You're on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what's to come next, I can tell.